The following will be a quick-hitting recall of last week’s previous injuries with any tidbits of news or assessment that can be gleaned during the early stages of the week. This article exists to cover only new injuries to fantasy-relevant players as most weeks some player injuries end up slipping through the cracks or are just relevant enough to crop up in a meaningful way down the road. Later this week the Injury Report will be published that will include all player injuries new and old. And remember- don’t over-react to the Wednesday practice report.
Running Backs
Darrell Henderson Jr. - High Ankle
Henderson suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday and is out for the foreseeable future. He’s now on the IR.
Chase Edmonds - Hip
This one is a bit vague. It initially looks like Edmonds was slammed into the turf and leading to a contusion. Then he came back in for a sweep and never returned. He’s played through ankle and knee injuries already, so it wouldn’t necessarily be a surprise if Edmonds sits in Week 17. After all, it is concerning he didn’t return at all last week.
Early week chances he plays: 50%
Wide Receivers
Brandon Aiyuk - High Ankle
He’s out for next week.
Michael Pittman Jr. - Concussion
About one third of all first-time concussions result in players being able to clear within a week. He has a chance, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Early week chances he plays: 33%
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff - Thumb
Goff fractured his thumb on Sunday and it was particularly gruesome as it also dislocated. He had surgery on Monday and is out for Sunday. This knocks down the Rams’ skill players a notch. A massive notch. If Goff also ruptured the same ligament Drew Brees did last year, he’s out indefinitely.
Kyler Murray - “Lower body”
This was another tough one to analyze but the bottom line it seems like either a bone bruise to the left knee, or potentially a meniscus and/or bone bruise on left. Given the nature of the “lower body” descriptor and the fact that the Cardinals are in a must win spot, it feels like Murray is actually fine and will play. Now, that’s my personal interpretation. The counterpoint is that the injury is indeed serious and Arizona is intentionally keeping quiet about it. Anyway, I’ve been wrong before, but this feels like a situation that Adam Schefter would have already outed if more serious.
Early week chances he plays: 75%
Matthew Stafford - Ankle
Can this dude catch a break? This looked like a simple inversion (lateral) ankle sprain that they were extra cautious with. Now the question becomes whether or not they trot this battered veterain out in the first place. Surely he’ll push to play, but there’s no good reason to trust him if he does play.
Early week chances he plays: 51%
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert - Calf
The Philly tight end suffered a calf strain on Sunday trying to break free from a tackle. The average return to play time for calf injuries is 17 days, but watch his practice reports. The Eagles are eliminated from the playoffs at this point and Pederson is apparently secure in his job prospects in 2021, so it'll be interesting what they do with a player who has a history of calf strains.
Early week chances he plays: 49%
Evan Engram - Ankle/foot
There isn’t much on film but there is a tinge of high-ankle when he’s tackled as the defender topples him by turning Engram’s body out as his foot was briefly planted. There’s also the possibility this is an exacerbation of the foot Engram had surgery on. Either way, they aren’t
